Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well-known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses.

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

1. Pooktre Art

The Holey Tree

Photo credit: The Society of the Happily Unusual www.myunusual.com

Pooktre tree shaping is a unique eco-art form created, developed and perfected by Peter Cook and Becky Northey in South East Queensland, Australia. Pooktre is a dream made into a reality through inspiration, love of nature, tree finesse, persistence and understanding trees and how they grow.

Axel N. Erlandson: Tree Shaping Master

Now if I am going to post an article about Pooktre I've got to mention one of the masters of tree shaping, Axel N. Erlandson(1884-1964). Erlandson put himself on the map, literally and figuratively, by creating a roadside horticulture attraction he dubbed The Tree Circus in Scotts Valley, California back in 1947. Erlandson had a vision of a horticulture theme park and charged admission but it was never a commercial success. The Tree Circus took in just over $300 for the entire year of 1955...his biggest take. He sold the property in 1963 for $12K and died the next year. Property owners came and went over the years. Finally, in 1985, the owner of a tree nursery bought 24 of the trees from the previous owner and transplanted them to his horticulture theme park, Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA, and they are on display today. Some of the other trees were sold and ended up at The Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, CA and in Baltimore at the American Visionary Art Museum.

Grow Your Own Furniture...Really!

50-plus years after Erlandson's Tree Circus opened for business, Pooktre co-founder Pete Cook proudly stands next to one of his guided creations on his home turf in South East Queensland, Australia. Pete has some very cool looking Pooktre growing out back. Pete's life partner, Becky, co-founded Pooktre back in 1996.

Becky's bio describes how the art of Pooktre developed in the following manner..."The swirls in the Pooktre was inspired by the hobby of engraving that she was doing at the time." Their website is what inspired me to write this post because of their nature-work and tree face image on the home page.

Becky and Pete wrote me a note where they mention...

We evolved our techniques of shaping trees in complete isolation from the rest of the world. With our techniques we know what will work or not and we can reproduce any of our pieces. Which we have done with our favorites. Pooktre only relates to our techniques, in short we have mastered the art of Pooktre.

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